Poetry, memoir,blogs and photographs from my world on the west coast of Canada.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Colorado Moon

Your eery beauty

draws my eyes

like

the heart

of a candle's flame,

but I know

your color,

blood-red

against the navy sky,

is because

the forests,

the houses

and the wildlife

all are burning.

Horses and humans flee fire

Sugar Doodle, after rescue

* photos from news sources on google

Kids, the red moon was beautiful, but it hurt to look at it, knowing our neighbors, both human and animal, in Colorado and Montana, are suffering. I so admire the heroic firefighting efforts that are beginning to contain the fires. And my heart is lifted by the rescue efforts of emergency response teams, the SPCA, and the Wildlife people, who are trying to assist humans and animals impacted by this disaster.

Our skies, even as far north as Vancouver Island, are smogged by the neighboring fires, and it is hard to enjoy a summer afternoon, knowing so many lives have been turned upside down this week.

One scientist was quoted as saying: "This is what global warming looks like." I look at Sugar Doodle's coat, and my heart shrivels with pain, and then expands. Someone saved this critter. Wildlife workers tranquilized and carried out a huge moose who had succumbed to smoke inhalation.

In the face of the overwhelming, it is all we can do, as humans: do what is in front of us, help whichever creature or person is in need. Clean up this planet, one inch, one mess, one human and one creature at a time.

It is indeed what global warming looks like and, i's not going to get any better as we continue to poison our planet and atmosphere. The sad thing is, what the heck kind of planet will the grandchildren inherit.Thank goodness for those men (and women ) who put their own lives at risk to help the people and animals to survive these fires Sherry.

Disasters can be awful. Where lives are threatened it would make it far worst. But if this is what global warming is then that can be real tough. It takes time for it to happen but when it does to reverse it would be monstrous. I just wonder if enough is done? I don't think so Sherry! It's waiting to happen some years down the road!